Nearly half of Taiwan's university seniors due to graduate within a year view their lack of foreign language ability as their major shortcoming, according to a recent Internet survey released in Taipei Monday.

The results of the poll conducted by a headhunting web site shows that 59 percent of the senior students at universities across Taiwan surveyed said that they had readied themselves for commencement, while 48 percent pointed to their lack of foreign language ability as their greatest vulnerability in the workplace.

Some 40 percent said that they felt they had not acquired enough professional knowledge, while 26 percent complained about having no special skills, the survey shows.

More then 70 percent said that they would try to increase their foreign language ability, while 38 percent and 27 percent, respectively, said that they would sharpen their professional knowledge and interpersonal relationship skills.

As to the question of what they will do after graduating, 41 percent said that they would try to find work, ahead of 31 percent who said that they would continue studying and 11 percent who said that they would take part in state and aptitude certificate examinations.

The poll was carried out from Sept. 10 to Sept. 27, recovering 1,260 valid questionnaires.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2005)